Because fate had other plans.
A classified military recruitment program identified Scarlett’s combat aptitude during her incarceration.
She was transferred under sealed orders.
What followed was years of war zones, black-ops missions, and survival in places designed to break people.
Instead, she rose.
She became one of the most decorated commanders in modern military history.
She built an intelligence and security network powerful enough to rival governments.
And she earned a reputation that made enemies surrender before she ever stepped onto the battlefield.
Now she was home.
And this time, she wasn’t coming back as the girl they destroyed.
She was returning as the woman they would fear.
Howard cleared his throat carefully.
“You don’t have to go back there.”
Scarlett turned to him.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
“You face the place that broke you.”
Then she added, almost quietly-
“And you make sure it never can again.”
…
At the correctional facility, Scarlett changed into a plain prison uniform, stripped of anything that made her recognizable.
No medals.
No rank.
No armor.
She wanted to see who would come for the version of her they thought still existed.
When she stepped outside, two people were waiting.
James Whitmore.
And Sadie Hayes.
Of course.
Her mother was nowhere in sight.
James approached first, holding a folder in one hand.
He looked at her with open contempt.
“Sign the divorce papers. You’ll receive five hundred thousand dollars as settlement.”
Scarlett glanced at the folder, then at him.
A laugh slipped out-low and cold.
“Five hundred thousand?”
She tilted her head.
“That’s what you think my silence costs?”
James’s jaw tightened.
“Don’t make this difficult. I’m marrying Sadie. We’re giving you more than you deserve.”
Scarlett looked at him for a long moment.
Then her gaze shifted to Sadie, who stood smugly at his side.
“So this is generosity?”
Her voice sharpened.
“Tell me, James… can you return the child you stole from me?”
Neither of them answered.
“Can you give me back the five years I lost?”
His face hardened.
“That child was a mistake. An embarrassment. You should’ve been grateful we cleaned it up.”
The world seemed to stop.
Howard, standing at a distance, felt the temperature in the air drop.
Scarlett’s fingers curled into a fist.
When she looked back at James, there was nothing human in her eyes.
Only judgment.
Only death.
Slowly, she reached for the divorce papers.
James smirked, assuming victory.
She signed.
Then, with one swift motion, she slapped the folder across his face so hard it sent him staggering backward.
The crack echoed through the parking lot.
He stared at her in disbelief.
Scarlett stepped closer.
“This divorce?”
Her voice was razor-sharp.
“You don’t get to request it.”
She met his eyes without blinking.
“You were never worthy of me.”
A pause.
Then-
“I’m the one leaving you behind.”
***
James looked like he was seconds away from snapping.
“Scarlett… Hayes.”
Her name came out through clenched teeth, each syllable heavy with barely contained rage.
Just as he was about to lose control, Sadie reached out and gently tugged on his sleeve.
“James… maybe I should talk to her,” she said softly, her voice trembling. “At the end of the day… I’m the one who hurt her first.”
The sight of her teary, guilt-stricken face made his chest tighten.
In his eyes, Scarlett had wronged Sadie over and over again-she had even cost them their child.
And yet Sadie had never blamed her.
Instead, she blamed herself-for “taking him away,” for everything that had happened.
How could someone be this selfless?
“Please… let me talk to her,” Sadie whispered, fragile and pleading.
James hesitated for a moment, then finally stepped aside.
The second she stood in front of Scarlett-
Everything about her changed.
The tears disappeared. In their place came a cold, mocking smile.
“Scarlett, that prison uniform really suited you,” she said with a sneer. “Honestly, you should’ve stayed locked up for life.”
Scarlett’s eyes narrowed, irritation flickering across her face.
“I’m not in the mood for your games,” she said flatly. “But don’t worry-you won’t have to wait long.”
Her lips curved slightly.
“I heard your wedding’s in three days. I’ll be there.”
A brief pause.
“To settle the score.”
Sadie’s heart skipped.
For just a split second, unease flickered across her expression.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.